VENEMAN RELEASES STATE FUNDING ALLOCATIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM

WASHINGTON, August 1, 2002-Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced that the additional $227 million for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) has been released to all states, Puerto Rico and the Pacific Basin. This is an important step towards implementing an improved, streamlined program that includes changes authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill and outlined in the July 24 Federal Register notice.

Through this allocation, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) state offices will receive allocated funding needed to provide financial and technical assistance to farmers, ranchers and tribes through EQIP for conservation practices that improve soil, water and air quality; wildlife habitat; and surface and ground water conservation on eligible agricultural land, including livestock operations.

"These funds will enable farmers and ranchers to enhance and protect our nation's soil, air and water resources for the future by implementing sound conservation practices today," said Veneman. "Farmers and ranchers are the best stewards of the land and this Administration continues its strong commitment in providing additional tools to enhance conservation efforts on working farmlands."

Key factors used to determine the distribution include acres of cropland, acres of irrigated cropland, acres of rangeland, acres of tribal lands, number of animals and tons of animal waste produced.

Veneman announced earlier this month that an additional $200 million is being provided for general enrollment for EQIP in FY 2002 and up to an additional $25 million of EQIP funds in FY 2002 will provide technical and financial assistance for ground and surface water conservation.

Based on current applications, an additional $2.25 million of EQIP funds are being made available for water conservation activities in the Klamath Basin in California and Oregon. The balance of $47.75 million for the Klamath Basin will be released at a later date.

EQIP is a voluntary conservation program that promotes environmental quality. For more information, contact your local NRCS office or USDA Service Center, listed in the telephone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture, or on the Web at http://offices.usda.gov .

A list of States and their EQIP funds follows.

Alabama $3,538,409

Alaska $482,208

Arizona $3,852,678

Arkansas $4,268,617

California $10,061,163

Colorado $10,677,168

Connecticut $768,419

Delaware $974,897

Florida $5,088,162

Georgia $4,002,717

Hawaii $665,907

Idaho $3,197,451

Illinois $3,896,695

Indiana $2,748,895

Iowa $4,841,621

Kansas $9,283,113

Kentucky $3,081,387

Louisiana $3,572,883

Maine $1,411,703

Maryland $1,668,422

Massachusetts $852,821

Michigan $4,173,081

Minnesota $5,960,912

Mississippi $3,408,614

Missouri $5,218,672

Montana $5,935,082

Nebraska $8,578,133

Nevada $1,225,381

New Hampshire $574,792

New Jersey $952,510

New Mexico $6,209,700

New York $3,400,187

North Carolina $4,336,390

North Dakota $3,960,978

Ohio $3,420,888

Oklahoma $5,406,684

Oregon $4,691,522

Pennsylvania $3,016,625

Rhode Island $419,796

South Carolina $2,228,397

South Dakota $4,944,795

Tennessee $3,061,478

Texas $21,308,465

Utah $4,020,005

Vermont $872,570

Virginia $3,148,881

Washington $3,520,251

West Virginia $1,748,380

Wisconsin $4,474,202

Wyoming $5,209,172

Pacific Basin $275,548

Puerto Rico $872,568

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